Self-driving car startup Waymo is going on a fact-finding mission in Tokyo, Japan, as it considers expanding operations beyond the US for the first time. Given that its autonomous vehicles have only been tested in the US, Waymo said it is sending over 25 Jaguar I-PACE SUVs to Japan from the start of 2025 to understand how a self-driving service would operate in an international setting. As part of its efforts to lay the groundwork, Waymo’s cars will be used to map out certain areas of Tokyo, including major commercial and business centres such as Shibuya and Minato. The drivers behind the wheels of the self-driving cars will be supplied from Waymo’s partner Nihon Kotsu, a major Japanese taxi company. These “road trips” are expected to help the company gather data about driving habits in Tokyo such as left-hand traffic and how to navigate densely populated urban areas. However, Waymo has clarified that it has “no plans to serve riders in Tokyo at this time”. “Our commitment to safer transportation goes beyond borders, and we’re excited to bring the Waymo Driver to Japan [..] Working with Nihon Kotsu and GO, we’ll understand Tokyo’s unique transportation needs and lay the groundwork for shaping the future of transportation in the city,” Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana was quoted as saying by The Verge. Other car makers are also looking to operationalise self-driving taxi services in Japan. Demonstrating its self-driving tech earlier this year, Nissan said it plans on providing commercial robotaxi services from 2027. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has tapped deep tech startup TIER IV to build a self-driving taxi that is large enough to ferry an entire family. The country is reportedly looking to allow self-driving vehicles on at least 25 public roads by March 2025, with future plans of enabling robotaxi services on 100 routes.
